Your shift will never be the same. Mine wasn’t either. First responders are equipped to respond to crisis after crisis, but are we equipped to handle the ongoing and cumulative effects of trauma, grief, loss, and survivor’s guilt? These jobs and our desire to serve others often cause us to carry an invisible weight. We try to do this on our own because we believe it’s expected of us. We aren’t taught how to manage the emotional impact of our work, which leads to poor decision-making, broken relationships, physical ailments, and an overall decrease in wellness. This powerful session covers professional and lived experience related to the unseen trauma survivors experience, as well as the hidden impact traumatic events have on those who serve. Through personal experiences and professional practice as a military veteran, homicide and suicide loss survivor, nationally credentialed victim advocate, and trauma professional; Scharnelle Hamlin will guide attendees through a realistic but compassionate discussion around cumulative trauma, resilience, healing, and seeking help without shame. Learn about survivor’s guilt, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and how to leverage cultural humility and trauma-informed practices to help others without compromising your own wellness. Remember that healing isn’t weakness; it’s one of the strongest things you’ll ever do.
Join us for an in-depth session tailored to law enforcement officers, covering key financial strategies for retirement, wealth management, and more. Attendees will gain essential financial knowledge to help them manage their money with confidence. They will learn practical steps to prepare for a secure retirement, along with clear strategies for navigating taxes, income planning, and building long‑term wealth. Throughout the session, participants will benefit from guidance shared by an experienced professional, who will offer insights to support informed decision‑making and lasting financial well‑being.
Women have been climbing career ladders, breaking glass ceilings, and handling career hurdles in law enforcement for decades, all while navigating a minefield that many of their teammates can’t see. This session tells one woman’s story, from believing sexism wasn’t real to discovering in a single workday that she was simultaneously “too sexy,” “not sexy enough, “autistic,” “inspiring,” and that she needed to “dial back on the testosterone from her CrossFit.” It addresses the emotional exhaustion of fighting systems, the Madonna-Whore minefield of undercover work, and the bureaucracy-induced fatigue that slowly chips away at women’s desire to keep doing the job. The talk will also cover what (and who) actually helps the most—and, spoiler alert, it’s not who you think. Men are both welcome and needed in this session.
Traditional crisis training often misses the human reality of the crisis. This session explores the psychological impact of embedding a clinical therapist directly into law enforcement operations. Designed for first responders, we examine how a trusted co-responder partnership mitigates cumulative moral injury, shares high-stakes decision-making burdens, and relieves hypervigilance—protecting officer well-being and restoring professional stamina. Together, Kristen and Rhodie present “Beyond the Call: The Psychological Shield of the Clinical-Tactical Partnership.” Their session blends clinical insight with lived experience, offering practical strategies, honest dialogue, and a shared belief that first responders deserve support that is culturally competent, accessible, and grounded in real‑world challenges.
